Finding a lawyer
Reading a lawyer's profile
Almost everything on a profile is written by the lawyer, or by someone they have authorised. Profiles say so, and label the few details that someone else has confirmed. This guide explains each part and each label.
The short version
Written by the lawyer
Profiles are maintained by the lawyer or their authorised representative, and our team reviews new listings and changes before they go live.
Labelled honestly
Self-reported, Firm-confirmed and Checked by The Roll each mean something specific. None of them is an endorsement.
Dated
Each profile shows when its details were last confirmed, and old availability statuses are hidden rather than shown out of date.
The labels
Who stands behind each detail.
Look for these labels beside experience, qualifications and enrollment details. They tell you where the information came from, not how good the lawyer is.
Provided by the lawyer
The lawyer, or someone they authorised, entered it and nobody has checked it. Most of a profile is self-reported: experience, qualifications, languages, hours and the enrollment date.
Agreed by a firm and the lawyer
A firm or chambers listed on The Roll proposed the position and the lawyer accepted it. It is not an independent check by The Roll.
One detail checked on a date
Our team checked a single named detail, such as the enrollment details or one qualification, against an independent source on the date shown. It covers nothing else on the profile.
Section by section
What a profile shows
Sections appear only when the lawyer has filled them in. A missing section means the lawyer hasn't said, never yes or no.
Practice areas, services and courts
The areas of law and specific services the lawyer chose, the courts where they regularly appear and whether they offer services island-wide. These describe the lawyer's practice; they are not certifications of expertise.
Languages
The languages the lawyer offers for spoken consultations and for document work, from Sinhala, Tamil and English. If none are given, no language is assumed.
Weekly availability
Recurring hours, in Sri Lanka time, in person, by phone or online. They are indicative: they show when the lawyer is usually reachable, not a booking.
Offices
Each public office with its published address, map, directions, contact details and hours. Some offices also describe step-free entry, lifts, toilets, parking and how to arrive, as stated by the lawyer.
Education and qualifications
Degrees, diplomas, accreditations and memberships as the lawyer lists them. Entries past their "valid until" date are hidden. A qualification does not show that the lawyer is currently entitled to practise.
Links, publications and Journal guides
Professional profiles and selected publications the lawyer links to, and guides they have written for The Roll Journal. Listing a publication doesn't confirm who wrote it.
New clients and first consultation
Whether the lawyer says they are accepting new enquiries, and how a first consultation works: by appointment or walk-in, how long it usually lasts and what to bring.
How current is it?
Details confirmed
Under Listing details, every profile says when its details were last confirmed.
What you may see
Confirmation states
- A date, and whether the lawyer or someone they authorised confirmed the details.
- "May be out of date" when the last confirmation was more than a year ago.
- "Not yet confirmed" or "Changed since last confirmed".
What it means
The lawyer's own review
- Confirming is the lawyer saying their details are still right. It is self-reported.
- A new-client status not reconfirmed for 90 days is hidden, so it never claims availability that may have changed.
- Approval by our team or a routine update never counts as confirmation.
Common questions
Questions people ask
Does a listing on The Roll mean the lawyer is verified?
No. Our team reviews listings before they are published, but approval is a publishing decision, not a check of credentials. Where we have checked a specific detail, the profile shows a Checks by The Roll card naming exactly what was checked and when.
Does The Roll show whether a lawyer is in good standing?
No. Even a checked enrollment record does not show that a lawyer currently holds a practising certificate, is in good standing or is free of disciplinary action. Ask the lawyer, or the Supreme Court Registry, if you need to know.
What does a missing section mean?
Only that the lawyer hasn't filled it in. For example, a profile without a new-client status says nothing either way about whether the lawyer is taking on new matters.
Are the reviews or ratings of lawyers shown anywhere?
No. The Roll does not publish ratings, reviews, rankings or comparisons between lawyers.
Found a lawyer?
Our guide to getting in touch explains what to ask and what to bring to a first consultation.